Phonograph



Oct. 26, 1937. c. N. HlcKMAN 2,095,805

' PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 18, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1937. v c. N. HlcKMAN 4 2,095,805

' PHONOGRAPH Filed sept. 1a, 19:55 4 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY @et 26, 1937. Q N HlcKMAN 2,096,805

PHONGRAPH Filed Sept. 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .5a 7 y 53 g oFF REP. nac. 3/ PHON. TAPE .HILL LAT.

C. N. H/CKVAN Oct. 26, 1937. c. N. HlcKMAN 2,095,805

IPHONOGMPH Filed Sept. 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY I Patented Oct.'26, 1937 UNITEDy STATES PHONOGBAPH clarence N. Hickman, Jackson mmm, N. Y., asslgnor to Bell. Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 18, 1935, Serial No. 41,013

This invention relates to sound recording and reproducing machines and particularly to those adapted to repeat the reproduction o1' a record automatically or to reproduce alternately vtwo or I more records.

The object of this invention is to provide an' improved combination of a reproducing phonograph with a sound recording machine adapted to make an immediately reproducible record. A

10 feature of this invention is a means for storing the immediately reproducible record.

For purposes of illustration, this invention will be described with reference to a machine for instructing by sound, such as a language instrucll tion machine. In its preferred form it comprises a telegraphonic recorder and reproducer combined with a disc reproducer. The magnetizable medium on which the sound is recorded is in the :form of a closed'loop and novel means are pro- 20 vided for storing the medium so that it may be withdrawn therefrom without being subjected to excessive stresses. Simplified driving means for the telegraphone and disc reproducer are provided to render possible the easy comparison of B5 sound recorded in both types of sound records.

'I'he various detalls of the preferred form of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View in perspective of the me' B chanical features of the assembled machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view in perspective of the chassis of the machine with the turntable removed;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the no'vel method of reeling a continuous band of record carrying mate- 15 rial;

Fig. 4 is a Wiring diagram showing how the various electrical elements of the machine are connected together; l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the tape reeling l0 mechanism similar to Fig. 3;

' Fig. 6 is a view of one of the take-up reels illustrating the tape position upon withdrawal; and

Fig. 1 is a detail view illustrating the manner of storing the tape upon the take-upl reels.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the apparatus is shown encased in a portable container III about the -size of an ordinary suitcase. All of the apparatus is mounted upon a panel I I which may be removed from container I0 by means of handles I2. Centrally located on panel II is a turntable shaft I3 on which is mounted turntable I4. A disc record lI5 is shown threaded overl shaft I3 and resting on turntable Il. An electrical reproducer I6 5 supported by an arm I1 and pivoted on post I8 (Cl. P19-100.2)

is shown tracking `record I5. A stop mechanism is provided to enable the operator to set the reproducer down on the record at any predeter' mined point. The mechanism is comprised of an arm I9 which is pivoted at 20 and adjustable to any position by means of toothed sector 2| and knife edge 22. A handle 23 is provided for swinging arm I9 Vto the desired location, Reproducer I6 is swung to the right by means of a handle 24 secured thereto, until it engages arm I9, where-l upon further motion in that direction is blocked and reproducer I6 may therefore be lowered upon record I5.

The associated telegraphonic apparatus is shown to better advantage in Fig. 2 to which reference now will be made. Shaft I3 which supports turntable I4, likewise supports and ydrives a pulley 25. In frictional engagement with pulley 25 is an endless steel band or tape 26 which moves from pulley 25, around pulleys 21 and 28 as many times as desired, and then is drawn from between pulleys 21 and 28 through guide 29 and a telegraphone unit, designated generally as 30, and back around pulley 25. This method of reeling the tape has several distinct advantages over the two-pulley type. It allows differentlengths to be used by reason of the large capacity of reels 21 and 28, the added lengths being taken up by winding the tape around these reels as many times as is necessary. Another advantage is that the tape is drawn 0H from reel 21 at. a point where there is no radial pressure on the tape,

such as might arise when It is drawn from the inside oi' the reel, and hence there is less wear on the tape. The method of winding the tape is shown clearly in Fig. 4. The tape 26 as it leaves pulley 25 passes around pulley 21 where its direction is changed V90 degrees, then around pulley 29 where its direction is reversed, then back around pulley 21 where its direction is again reversed, etc., until the bottom layer of tape .on reel 21 emerges at point A after having its direction changed 270 degrees, the last 90 degrees being free of all previous convolutions of the tape. It is then drawn through guide 29 and the telegraphone unit 90 whence it returns to driving pulley 25. The pulleys 21 and 28 are tiltable with their axes in order that the tape 26 may be drawn from the lower layer upon pulley 21 and clear the adjacent layers of the stored tape as it is fed to the reel 25. The tape as it is fed from reel 25 goes onto the top layer of the storage reels and there is sumcient slippage between adjacent layers of tape on the reels 21 and 2B to permit the right amount of tension in the tape spaces between the driving reel 25 and the storage or take-up reels 21 and 25.

The telegraphone unit and the method of recording on the tape are fully describedin Patent No. 1,944,238 issued to me on January 23, 1934.

Referring to Fig. '1 again, 3| is a microphone which is4 mounted upon a small adjustable boom 52. In order tofkeep the amount of recording within the limits of the tape, a time indicator 35 is used. 'I'his is comprised of a pointer 34 and a dial 55 calibrated in seconds. The pointer is secured to a gear 35 whichis connected through a train of gears 31, 35 and 35 to gear 40 on drive shaft I3. 'I'he gears are shown merely as dotted circles. The remainder of the apparatus shown on Fig. 1 is of an electrical nature and hence 45. Battery 44 furnishes the current for the microphone 3| and battery 45 is a polarizing battery for the telegraphone unit 30. Both batteries may be tested by connecting them through switches 45 and 45 to a common meter 50.

The amplifier used with the phonographs may be` any high quality amplifier and hence is not shown in Fig. 4. Power is applied to the external amplifier from leads 42 through leads 5I in one of which is a switch 52. A lamp 53 across leads 5I lights when the switch is thrown on and indicates that current is flowing into the ampliiler. The input to the ampliner is connected to a two-way switch 54, the left-hand contact of which is connected to the magnetic recorder 30 and the right-hand contact of which is connected to the disc reproducer I5. The circuit to the disc reproducer I5 may be interrupted by switch 55 and. made to include jack 55, the purpose of which is to enable the operator to use a different reproducer, i. e., if the reproducer supplied with the machine is of the hill and dale type, plugon the tape depends upon the position of threeway switch 55. In the position shown, the machine is conditioned forreproduction. vThe input of the amplifier is connected through switch 55 to the translating magnet 55 of the tele- -graphone and the output of the amplifier is con- 'nected to jack 55 into` which may be plugged earphones or a loud-speaker. 'I'he volume at the earphones or loud-speaker is adjusted by potentiometer 45. When switch 55 is thrown to the right, the machine is conditioned for recording. The output of the amplifier is connected to translating magnet 55 and ground while the input is connected to potentiometer 5I, jack 52 and microphone 45. If some other type of microphone is desired, it may be plugged into jack 52. Polarizing magnet 53 and depolarizing 'magnet 54 are likewise energized when switch 55 is thrown to the right. The microphone 45 is coupled to the recording circuit through a rheostat 55 and a transformer 55. l

When it is desired to turn oi! the telegraphone, switch 55 is thrown to the left, thereby discon- 2,09o,.805 Y l nesting the telegraphone from the input to the amplifier.

To operate the above described apparatus, a

disc record having the desired phrases. words v or sentences recorded thereon is .placed upon turntable I4, the motor "and amplifier are switched on and switch. is turned to the Phon position.` With earphones 'plugged into jack 55, reproducer I5 is lowered upon the disc and as much of the recorded matter is reproduced as is desired. If some portion is to be studied in detail, stop arm I5 is moved over until reproducer I5, when it begins to track over the desired portion Just touches it, whereupon stop arm |5f^is lowered to lock knife edge 22 upon toothed sector 2|. Reproducer I5 is then loweredupon the record at this point after each reproduction as often as the reproduction is to be repeated. When the words or phrases are clearly understood, switch 54v is thrown to the Tape position and switch 5,5 is set for recording on the tape. The tape runs continuously as long as turntable I4 is running and therefore it needs no conditioning for operation other than the setting of switches 54 and 55 after motor switch 43 and amplifier switch 52 have once been turned on. Since it runs continuously, pointer 34 recording, the words or phrases being studied are spoken intomicrophone 3|, care being taken that the loop of tape passes through the magnetic phonograph but once during the recording as indicated by pointer 34. Just before pointer 34 reaches its starting point, switch 55 is thrown to the Rep position to avoid erasing the recorded matter. The recorded matter can now be reproduced as often as desired and then compared with the samewords or phrases as recorded inthe disc. If the volume from the tape is greater than theI volume from the disc, or vice versa, the equalizer 5'I is adjusted until the two are at about the same level.

'I'he combined disc and telegraphone phonograph provides a convenient and compact device for aiding one in improving one's speech. and for home instruction in foreign languages. 'I'he manipulation of the disc portion of the phonograph is not much different from the manipulation of other disc phonographs and hence can readily be learned by anyone. 'I'he operation of the telegraphone requires, after the machine is once set, the operation of but one key and the observance of one dial. The use of an endless steel band obviates the use of a rewinding mechanism, and the novel reeling method for the band prolongs the life of the tape' and permits the use of several dlierent lengths of tapes as desired. l

It is understood that the above description is merely illustrative of the invention and that the ing through said panel, magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus mounted upon said panel and including a drive reel for the tape `7l aoaeos operatively mounted on the turntable driving 'w spindle, a reproducer for the disc record mount- I 7ed upon the panel, recording and reproducing apparatus for the magnetic. tapel mounted on the panel, sound pick-up and reproducing appaintus, and switching means carried by said panel for selectively aslsmzcciatirig said sound' pick-up and reproducing apparatus .with the magnetic tape and disc record.

2. A portable self-contained sound' recording and reproducing apparatus for sound comparison comprising in combination. a carrying case,

an apparatus mounting panel removably mounted in the case, a disc record engraved with a standard for comparison operatively mounted on the panel, reproducing means for the disc record carried by the. panel, magnetic tape recording and reproducing means carried by themounting panel, sound pick-up and reproducing means and switching means carried by the panel for selectively associating the sound pick-up and reproducing means with the magnetic tape and disc record.

3. A portable self-contained sound recording and reproducing apparatus for sound comparison comprising ln=combination a carrying case. an apparatus mounting panel removably mounted in the carrying case, a disc record engraved with ya standard for comparison operatively` mounted on the panel reproducing means ior the disc record mounted upon `the panel. a mag- .,netic tape, a driving reel for the tape mounted- ,on the panel, a. plurality of take-up and storage reels for the tape mounted on the panel, recording and reproducing means for the magnetic tape carried on the mounting panel, sound pick-up and reproducing means, and circuit connecting and switching Nmeans carried by the panel `for operatively and selectively associating the sound pick-up and reproducing means with the magnetic. tape and disc record.

4. A`portable self-contained sound recording and reproducing apparatus for sound comparison, in combination a can'yingcase, an vapparatus mounting panel removably mounted in the case, a disc record engraved with a standard for comparison, a turntable for the disc record. a

driving spindle extending through the mounting panel for supporting the turntable, a magnetic tape, a drivingfreel for the tape mounted on the turntable spindle below the turntable, take-up and storage reels for the tape mounted upon the mounting panel in spaced relation to receive,

' tape irom the bottom layer of one take-up reel lo'nto the driving reel andirom the driving reel onto the top layer of the same take-up reel.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, an Y iendless magnetic tape for recording" and reproducing sound variations, a driving reel for the tape and a pair of take-up and storage reels over whichthe tape is looped a plurality. of

times in layers and in a direction to feed the tape from the bottom layer of one take-up reel to the drive reel and from the drive reel onto the top layer of the same take-up reel, the take-up reels being tilted at an angle that permits the withdrawn portion of the tape to pass over the adjacent looped portion of the tapewithout irictinal engagement therewith;

' CLARENC N. mcxMAN. 

